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Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Telecom Authority In Doubt About DAB

Going for FM together with Internet digital radio in Sweden

In the government consultation about
public service the telecom authority Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS) is
questioning any extra public service funding for a DAB implementation. Any decision on this
cannot be made before there is proof of any demand and need for digital sound
broadcasting in Band III (174-240 MHz) in Sweden. PTS says that the Public service commission is lacking on
this; the real demand of the consumers and the need for a digital transition
for sound broadcasting.

PTS notes that there are no global standard
for digital sound broadcasting. The only global sound broadcasting standard is
FM. PTS points out the enormous breakthrough for ip-based technology which
includes moving images and sound. PTS regards web based digital radio as an
important complement to FM radio.

PTS underscores the large coverage area
of FM-transmitters also with regional subareas. This is especially important
during emergencies or catastrophic situations. There will be large costs to
transfer the robustness and the flexibility of the present FM network to a
digital network.

PTS also points out that FM radio is
harmonized all over the world and no country has decided to close the analogue
sound broadcasting spectrum 87,5-108 MHz.
PTS says that it is not likely that other kind of services will be harmonized in
this spectrum. Also a digital multiplex system (as DAB) will be detrimental to
small operators and may be an impediment for widening the program spectrum.

The telecom authority will support the
development of the analogue sound broadcasting on 87,5-108 MHz by continuing to
modify the planning parameters. Thus there will be more space for the radio
companies on this band. Besides this, as today, the FM radio can be well supplemented by web radio.

PTS also points out that if the 700 MHz band
will be used for mobile phones in Sweden other bands must be found for digital
terrestrial television. An alternative solution according to PTS would be Band
III (174-240 MHz) today used for DAB.
The government has yet to decide on the national spectrum policy for
Sweden. Finland has already reserved Band III for television instead of sound
broadcasting.